Attitudes of Wisconsin pediatricians toward influenza immunization

Determine the influenza immunization practices of Wisconsin pediatricians in response to evolving influenza prevention strategy in the United States.

Two hundred fifty members of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics were surveyed prior to the 2004-2005 influenza season about their expectations for implementing the latest and future influenza vaccination recommendations for children and their use of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines free of thimerosal as a preservative.

Ninety-two percent of respondents expected to vaccinate most medically high-risk children against influenza, but only 53% would recommend influenza vaccine for most of their household contacts. Although 57% planned to vaccinate most healthy children ages 6 months to 23 months, just 27% thought the majority of household contacts of healthy infants under 23 months of age would be vaccinated. Fewer than 24% favored universal influenza vaccination for the majority of healthy school-aged children. Seventy percent had little or no concern about recommending thimerosal-containing influenza vaccines, but 60% agreed or strongly agreed thimerosal-free vaccine availability would increase parental acceptance of vaccinating their children.

Although Wisconsin pediatricians are aware of the importance of preventing influenza disease in children, barriers to universal influenza vaccination of children and key household contacts remain.